One of Dublin’s treasures is tucked away one block away from main street, offering a picturesque venue for small gatherings and a rich history of serving the community.
The treasure in question is the Little Church on Grafton which has been going through some exterior work this year and is available for rent for as little as $100.
The Little Church was built in 1890 and has served Dublin congregations of Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists and Catholics, who donated the building to the Dublin Historical Society in 2008. It was opened as an events center in 2011.
“When I first came here, it was in need of paint and that was 2016,” said Dublin Historical Museum President Ben Pate. “I would come in on my own, paint one space and do another later.”
Pate said Sherwin Williams’ color matching helped hide the piece-meal nature of the work but he was in desperate need of help at the beginning of this year the Little Church as well as other projects he works on when he finds the time.
Then a minor miracle happened for him and The Little Church when Jesse Balderas approached him. Balderas was in search of work and had experience in construction and carpentry.
With the help of Balderas and his assistant, Martin, the Church is now sitting pretty.
Pate reported there were gaps in the cypress wood boards on the exterior of the building. Jesse determined the best way to secure the boards, then they caulked the spaces between and hand painted it all to be uniform and long-lasting.
“I looked at it and said, ‘My God, it’s beautiful,’” said Pate. “At a distance, it almost looks like it’s fused.”
Balderas also removed the excess vents from the previous air conditioning unit as the old one was replaced with modern energy efficient devices.
Pate said the next step will be some sheetrock work in the bathroom and painting boards on the ceiling, but Pate and Balderas have transitioned to other projects like the gristmill and Wright Park which is being renovated for rental.
Donations are always accepted to help with the Museum’s upkeep and projects. (The museum is located at 116 W. Blackjack and open daily from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Rental fees of The Little Church also help the restoration projects and Pate assured it is open now and renters have loved using it for meetings and events. (The venue can fit around 50 people comfortably.) Religious ceremonies can’t be held in the building but families are free to rent it for receptions or dinners after events like weddings.
Those interested in renting the Little Church can contact Blanca Martineau at martineaublanca@gmail.com.